Bowling ball door guard



April 4, 1961 c. F. MITCHELL ET AL BOWLING BALL DOOR GUARD Filed July 51, 1958 FIG.I

FIG. 2

CHARLES FAZE EP-I ELL ISADORE F? LONIER ATTYS.

FIG.3

United States Patent 2,978,247 1 BOWLING BALLVDOOR GUARD Charles F. Mitchell, 18f Crescent Drive, Akron, Ohio, and Isadore P. Lonier,,130 E. Good St., Wadsworth,

The present invention relates to automatic pin setter equipped bowling alleys and especially to a novel door guard for use in association with such types of bowling alleys where a ball return door is provided.

In the last several years, there has been a great deal of acceptance and commercial use of automatically operated types of pin setting mechanism for bowling alleys. Thus many bowling alleys have automatic mechanisms for controlling the setting of pins in the alleys, the bandling of balls and knocked down pins, the return of balls to the bowler, etc. Quite a few of these automatic pin setting mechanisms-have been of the general type such as is shown in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,388,708 and 2,550,919. However, the specific mechanism used in the various alleys may not be exactly that shown in the patents but such patents show representative structures of the type to which this invention relates.

In some types of automatic pin setter apparatus, it has been a customary practice to have an endless belt conveyor in the pit portion of the bowling" alley so as to move the pins and balls towards the rear of the pit for further processing. V

In many types of automatic pin setter apparatus'used heretoforefit has been necessary to provide a member for removing the balls from'the bowling alley pit, whereas a second mechanism is provided for removing or processing the pins swept or moved into the bowling alley pit section by the control apparatus provided. The apparatus in use has had some difficulties because the pins in the bowling alleypit tend to move, in some instances, into the ball processing apparatus. Such entry of pins into the ball handling section of the apparatus has naturally caused improper functioning of the apparatus and has required the apparatus to be shut 01f until proper adjustment or correction can be made. Usually a man has to be available to shut oif the apparatus, and to reach into the apparatus and remove the pin from the ball return mechanism. Thereafter the apparatus can be reactuated and further automatic functioning thereof will occur.

It obviously is undesirable to have the apparatus shut oif very often and/ or to have delays set up in the bowling cycle.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide anovel and improved meansparticularly adapted for use with automatic pin setting mechanism so as to facilitate the separation of balls and pins from each other in the automatically functioning apparatus. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel, substantially wedge shaped block particularly adapted to be mounted in association with a ball return door of automatic pin setting or handling apparatus so as to guide or direct pins. away from the ball return door and prevent clogging of such door by fallen pins in the pit section of the bowling alley.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge shaped member directly forward of the ball return door formed in the side walls of a bowling alley pit to direct 2,978,247 7 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 "ice pins away from the actual ball door in the side wall portion of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball door guard made from a substance which can be readily aflixed to a bowling alley side wall, and which bowling ball door guard has a non-abrasive, long wearing surface provided thereon.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a bowling alley having apparatus of the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partially in vertical section, of the bowling alley and pit provided therefor and associated portions of the apparatus, although most features. of the automatic pin setting mechanism are removed for clarity purposes;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the specific door guard of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the guard portion of the apparatus of Fig. 2. i

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison between such similar, or equivalent parts.

The present invention, generally speaking, relates to the combination with a bowling alley, having a pit section connected thereto at one end thereof, side walls on the bowling alley at the pit section, an endless conveyor the pit section, a door being provided in such one wall ofthe pit section for passage of bowling ballstherethrough as led to the side wall by combination action of the cushion and conveyor means,'and a door guard'is secured to the said one side wall in advance of the ball door. Preferably this ball door guard is of wedge shape in horizontal section and has a pointed end directed towards the front end of the pit section to contact pins on the conveyor, or otherwise brought into contact with the door guard, to urge them laterally inwardly'of the bowling alley and'clear them from the entrance to the ball door in the side wall.

Attention now is particularly directed to the details of A the structure shown in the drawings and a bowling alley is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This bowling alley 1 has a pit section 2 of substantially conventional construction provided therefor. The pit section 2 is of the type used with certain of the automatic pin spotters or setters in commercial use today and in such apparatus a conveyor 3 is normally positioned at the bottom-of the pit section 2, and moves along the longitudinal axis of the alley 1..

This conveyor 3 normally is positioned substantially horizontally and parallel to but below the upper surface of the bowling or play portion of the bowling alley 1. The conveyor 3 is suitably driven and extends the width of the pit section. V V p e V As a portion of the normal apparatus provided in the bowling alley 1, a cushion, stop board, or pad 5 is provided in the bowling alley and extends transversely of the pit section 2 adjacent the back end thereof. 'This cushion 5 is positioned at such a height above the conveyor 3 that pins 4 will move underneath the lower edge of the cushion 5, but with a ball 6 being contacted by the lower portion of the cushion 5 to be directed transversely of the pit section 2 by slight inclination in the cushion 5. The pit section 2 is provided with side walls 7 and 8 thereon to confine the pins and ball means within a required section or Zone in the bowling alley and the cushion 5 is adapted to urge the ball 6 towards the side wall 7. Such side wall 7 has a pivotally positioned ball door 9 therein normally positioned parallel with and at the upper surface of the conveyor 3 at the end of the cushion 5. Thus the ball 6 can be automatically brought into engagement with the ball door 9 which will cause the ball door 9, usually, to swing inwardly and permit passage of the ball therethrough. However, in many instances the pins 4 tend to become clogged up in front of the ball door 9 for one reason or another and this interferes with free movement with the ball from the apparatus. Thus it has been necessary in some instances to shut off the conveyor 3 and associated pin setting mechanism so that one can manually remove any pins or any other obstructions in front of the ball door 9.

As an important feature of the present invention, there is provided a ball door guard 10. This guard 10 preferably is of a wedge shape and has its pointed or leading end extending forwardly of the bowling alley, as indicated best in Fig. 3. The ball door guard 10 may be made from any suitable material, such as solid rubber or similar material, and it normallly has some type of a highly abrasion resistant surface, such as a sheet 11 provided thereon. This sheet may be made from hard, rigid plastic material, fiber board, or any other suitable material which will give a hard, abrasion resistant surface on the sheet. In fact, the entire ball door guard could be made from a hard Wood material, if desired. It would be possible, as an alternate construction, to make the ball door guard from a hollow, but inflated rubber, or plastic article of the same general shape as that shown. It may have a cover plate thereon, if desired.

In all events, a wedge shape member is provided and is secured to the side wall 7 immediately forwardly of and usually slightly above the lower margin of the ball door 9. Thus any pins tending to be knocked against the side wall 7 adjacent the door 9, or to be moved thereadjacent by a conveyor 3 will contact the guard 10 and be deflected laterally inwardly of the pit section 2. This greatly aids in clearing away sections on the conveyor 3 immediately in front of the ball door 9. Hence, use of the door guard of the invention aids materially in preventing any tie-up of the automatic functioning of the apparatus and facilitates the balls smoothly flowing or moving from the pit section 2 through the ball door 9.

The ball door 9 has its lower edge at or below the level of the ball and pin support means in the pit section of the bowling alley. The guard 10 usually is of about the height of the ball door 9 and is positioned with its lower edge slightly above the ball and pin support means.

It will be realized that the guard 10 can be secured to the side walls 7 in any conventional manner, such as by use of adhesives or cements, or means like screws 12 can be used to fixedly secure the guard 10 to the side wall 7.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that a relatively uncomplicated, and easily installed ball door guard is provided. This guard can be assembled by relatively unskilled help to a side wall of a bowling alley having automatic pin setting apparatus associated therewith. The guard then will give effective service life and improve the functioning of the apparatus. Hence, it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modih cation of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a bowling alley having a pit section connected thereto at one end thereof, side walls at the pit section, an endless conveyor driven towards the back end of said pit section, the improvement and combination comprising a cushion suspended above said pit section intermediate the ends thereof, said cushion extending across said pit section and engaging balls on said conveyor to direct them to one side wall of said pit section, a door in said one wall of said pit section for passage of bowling balls therethrough as led to said side wall by said cushion, and a door guard secured to said one side wall in advance of said ball door, said door guard being of wedge shape in horizontal section with a pointed end being directed towards the front or leading end of said pit section to contact pins on said conveyor and urge them laterally inwardly on said conveyor.

2. In combination with a bowling alley having a pit section at one end thereof, side walls at the pit section, an endless conveyor driven towards the back end of said pit section, a cushion suspended above said pit section intermediate the ends thereof, said cushion extending across said pit section and engaging balls on said conveyor to direct them to one side wall of said pit section, and a door in said one wall of said pit section for passage of bowling balls therethrough as led to said side wall by said cushion; a novel member comprising a door guard secured to said one side wall in advance of said ball door and above said conveyor, said door guard being of wedge shape in horizontal section with a pointed end being directed towards the front end of said pit section to contact pins on said conveyor and urge them laterally inwardly on said conveyor, said door guard having a non-abrasive surface plate thereon.

3. In combination with a bowling alley having a pit section at one end thereof, side walls at the pit section, an endless conveyor driven towards the back end of said pit section, a cushion suspended above said pit section intermediate the ends thereof, said cushion extending across said pit section intermediate the ends thereof and engaging balls on said conveyor to direct them to one side wall of said pit section, and a door in said one wall of said pit section for passage of bowling balls therethrough as led to said side wall by said cushion, the improvement comprising a door guard secured to said one side wall in advance of said ball door and extending substantially the height thereof, said door guard being of wedge shape in horizontal section and having a pointed end directed towards the front end of said pit section to contact pins on said conveyor or knocked against said door guard to deflect them laterally inwardly of the pit section.

4. In combination with a bowling alley having a pit section at one end thereof, side walls at the pit section, means urging balls and pins in said pit section towards the back end thereof, a cushion suspended above said pit section intermediate the ends thereof, said cushion extending across said pit section and engaging balls on said means to direct them to one side wall of said pit section, and a door in said one wall of said pit section for passage of bowling balls therethrough as led to said side wall by said cushion, the improvement comprising a door guard secured to said one side wall in advance of said ball door, said door guard being of wedge shape in horizontal section and having a pointed end directed towards the front end of said pit section and positioned to contact pins moving along said one side wall to deflect them laterally inwardly of the pit section.

5. In combination with a bowling alley having a pit section at one end thereof, side walls at the pit section, means urging balls and pins in said pit section towards the back end thereof, a cushion suspended above said pit section intermediate the ends thereof, said cushion extending across said pit section and engaging balls on saidmeans to direct them to one side wall of said pit section, and a door in said one wall of said pit section an abrasion resistant surface sheet secured to said door for passage of bowling balls therethrough as led to said side wall by said cushion, the improvement comprising a References Cited in the file of this Patent hollow resilient door guard secured to saidone side wall NITED STATES PATENTS in advance of said ball door and extending substantially 2, 15 715 mh et 1 23 195 the height thereof, said door guard beingof wedge shape 2,709,591 Parry May 31, 1955 in horizontal section and having a pointed end directed 2,765,l72 Zuercher et al. Oct. 2, 1956 towards the front endof said pit section to contact pins 2,767,983 Holloway et a1 Oct. 23, 1956 to deflect them laterally inwardly of the pit section, and 2,809,0 7 Montoolh et a1 00L 1957, 

